The Golden Age of Piracy!!
This class, over 8 weeks will cover a range of topics that include, but are not limited to, the rise of piracy, famous pirates, pirate ships and technology, The Spanish Main, myths and misconceptions about pirates.
What's included
16 live meetings
16 in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. 3-6 throughout the classProjects
Creative writing (making your own pirate) and a research presentationMastery Evaluation
1-2 throughout the classAssessment
Presentation or research essayProgress Report
1-2 throughout the classCertificate of Completion
They will get a certificate and progress report at the end of the class, that details what they learned, how they did and the progress they made.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 12
The Golden Age of Piracy will cover topics from Hernan Cortes all the way up to the end of the Golden Age of Piracy in the early 18th century. We will discuss, how it got started, who was involved, who were the big time pirates, what was real vs. what was myth with pirates. We will be watching documentaries, taking notes, doing presentations and projects and creative writing, making your own pirate and developing their story within a historical context.
Learning Goals
Historical Understanding
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the causes, rise, and decline of piracy during the Golden Age, including its socio-economic and political context.Critical Thinking and Analysis
Analyze the motivations of pirates and their relationship with governments, merchants, and navies.
Syllabus
Curriculum
Follows Teacher-Created CurriculumStandards
Aligned with National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS)16 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
The Age of Exploration and Early Piracy
Overview of European exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
Hernán Cortés, the conquest of the Aztec Empire, and the wealth of the New World.
The emergence of piracy in response to Spanish dominance in the Americas. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Privateers and the Birth of Piracy
Differences between privateers and pirates.
The role of government-sanctioned privateering during wars between European powers.
Famous early privateers like Sir Francis Drake and their impact. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
The Spanish Main and Treasure Fleets
The importance of Spanish treasure fleets transporting wealth from the Americas to Europe.
How the "Spanish Main" became a hotspot for pirate attacks.
The influence of the Treaty of Tordesillas on piracy. 60 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Buccaneers of the Caribbean
Origins of the buccaneers in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Pirate havens like Tortuga and Port Royal.
Famous buccaneers: Henry Morgan and his raids on Spanish territories. 60 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Learning Needs
We will be using a variety of teaching techniques, that any type of learner will be able to enjoy and learn from this class. We have guided notes, typed notes, study guides, the use of technology and extra time if needed.
Parental Guidance
We will be looking at possibly violent themes and content. It will be discussed before hand and the parents will know ahead of time, so there can be any changes made prior to the class. I understand that some images and themes can be disturbing, and there will be plenty of discretion.
Pre-Requisites
Just an interest in pirates!
Supply List
a hand out will be emailed that details the requirements for the paper/presentation and the creative writing portion.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
We will be reading the pdf version of the "The General History of the Pyrates" the first primary source that tells us about these famous pirates. We will be looking at images, maps, documentaries and other primary sources.
https://guides.loc.gov/golden-age-of-piracy/print-resources
https://www.loc.gov/maps/collections/
https://www.loc.gov/collections/washington-and-chesapeake-bay-narratives/about-this-collection/
Joined November, 2024
Teacher expertise and credentials
I have taught this class several times, I love this topic and I have read several books on it. I will guide them through the topics and themes, as well as the research and creative writing portion. Reviews
Live Group Course
$42
weekly or $335 for 16 classes2x per week, 8 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
2-12 learners per class
